Hiking in the Footsteps of David Lama

My hiking tip for today starts high in the Alps at the “ Hoadl ” in the “ Axamer Lizum.” The trailhead is easily accessible by mountain railway, and before you know it, you’re right in the middle of a stunning mountain landscape. An area right up David Lama’s alley. The exceptional climber and mountaineer from Innsbruck surely spent a lot of time here; before his tragic death, he lived not far from here in a village near Innsbruck. Today, we’ll follow in his footsteps and explore the David Lama Memorial Trail.

Axamer Lizum - Hoadl bahn to the mountain station

Today the weather is stable and typical of high summer, and we’re looking forward to pleasant temperatures in the high Alps. We drive to the Axamer Lizum, and to our surprise, the parking lot is practically empty. We immediately board the Hoadl circulating gondola and enjoy a relaxed seven-minute ride to the Hoadl mountain station at 2,340 meters above sea level, which is our starting point today.

If you’d like, you can stop by the Hoadl Haus right next door.

At the " Hoadl " house, there’s an exciting Swiss stone pine marble run that the children love to explore. The sound of the bell, in particular, fascinates them and encourages them to try it again right away.

We start on the wide gravel path that leads directly away from the “ Hoadl ” and turns left immediately toward the south.

A few cows are relaxing on a small hill , and we admire the beautiful views of the Kalkkögl and Herzlteich. You can hike down to Herzlteich from the “ Hoadl,” or take a lovely family hike from the middle station along the so-called Herzlteichweg. 

The first sign we come across shows us the many hiking options available from the Hoadl. These range from moderately difficult ridge hikes, such as the one to the Kleine Ochsenwand, to via ferrata routes, such as the one to the Große Ochsenwand. Another beautiful option is the hike past the Adolf Pichler Hut at 1,977 meters above sea level and another 30 minutes or so to the Kemater Alm at 1,673 meters above sea level. From there, the trail continues to the Schafalm, which is located about ten minutes above the Hoadl valley station. The total walking time for this tour is about three and a half to four hours.

We take the turnoff to the David Lama Memorial Trail. After climbing just a few meters, a wonderful, high-contrast view opens up before us, showcasing the rolling alpine meadows and the striking Kalkkögel mountains.

We follow the adventurous path and admire the beautiful texture and structure of the brittle gray slate rocks, which are found in abundance here. The rocky surroundings look amazing, but caution is advised. The slate path is brittle; concentration and mindfulness are essential. 

After another 15 minutes, we come to the next fork in the trail and follow the path of the “ David Lama ” Memorial Trail, which requires a sure footing at this point. 

We’re happy about the stable weather today, and after about ten more minutes of walking, a view opens up of the western ridges of the Stubai Alps toward the Senderstal and Sellraintal valleys. At the next sign, we follow the direction of the Tibetan flags.

After a short climb, we reach today’s destination, the Hochtennboden at 2,367 meters above sea level, where a few sheep spend the summer. 

We are captivated by this magical place and enjoy the stunning 360-degree panorama. 

The sheep clearly feel right at home here, just as we do. We can very well understand why the memorial to David Lama was erected in this picturesque spot, which he held in such high regard. The hike up to Hochtennboden is also well-suited for families. Starting from the Hoadl, this trail offers a relatively easy mountain hike with scenic views and takes one to two hours, depending on the exact route chosen and starting from the Hoadl trailhead.

Those who wish to continue further should have alpine experience. From Hochtennboden onward, the “ David Lama ” Memorial Trail becomes a challenging mountain hike leading to peaks such as the Machreisenspitze or the Hochtennspitze.

This tour is recommended only for experienced hikers. In addition, you should check the current trail conditions in advance using the latest Alpine Club report. According to the report from May 2026, the trail is currently not in good condition.

We still have some time before the last descent, so we’ll keep going a little further. 

The path is now a rocky trail, and in some places we have to hold on tightly to the rock with our hands and watch our step carefully. A head for heights and sure-footedness are absolutely essential here.

We are treated to magically fascinating views, both deep below and far into the distance. Now it becomes clear to us why the Kalkkögel s are known as the North Tyrolean Dolomites. 

The rugged, pointed rock towers and jagged peaks look like striking sculptures, and the interplay of light and shadow on them is truly impressive. Here, you can really feel just how small and fragile we humans are.   

It’s time for us to head back today. 

We’ll head back down to the valley on the last Hoadl train, which departs at 4:30 p.m. in the summer. We’ll be back soon. It’s definitely worth spending several days here and planning to stay overnight at one or two mountain huts.

Related Links:

Hoadl Events: Exciting events time and again, such as Classical Music on the Mountain (September 12, 2026 – September 13, 2026), Skinnovation, Podcast on the Mountain, Ugly Ski Day, and much more.

Kemater Alm

Adolf Pichler Hut